"Unrealistic, unless you're Serena Williams" - Kenin on meeting expectations after Grand Slam triumph
WTA
After winning the 2020 Australian Open, Sofia Kenin was stopped by injuries, lack of form, and maybe also the weight of expectations, as she admitted.
After almost five months away from tennis, Kenin will play her first WTA Tour match against Camila Osorio at the 2022 Citi Open in Washington. A few days ago, she lost to Coco Gauff at an exhibition event in Atlanta, winning only three games in the match.
But the American feels ready to compete again and she will try to show that her Grand Slam triumph was not a coincidence. Speaking at the Citi Open in Washington, Kenin admitted that she wanted 2022 to be the year, but again, she was stopped by an injury.
"It was obviously nice to be out there competing, but I just feel like emotions kind of got me. I felt like a bit overwhelmed. Obviously, I was excited. I’m finally getting back in the groove. There were a lot of minor injuries and I had to take care of it."
"I just figured, let’s get everything cleared, let’s start it again in 2022 at Australia. Then, unfortunately, I had another injury."
At the same time, Kenin admitted that she felt the pressure after winning her maiden Grand Slam title. Looking back now, she admitted that having high expectations wasn't realistic, as repeating such success is something that only the legends of the sport have managed to do consistently over the years.
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"I felt more pressure from the outside. I tried to do my best, but obviously some nerves got the better of me. We should expect that, but I’ve been told by a few people that that’s normal coming off after a Grand Slam, a final, you have more pressure."
"I put more pressure on myself because I felt like I was expected to do it each time. That’s unrealistic unless you’re like Novak [Djokovic] or like Rafa [Nadal]. Serena [Williams], too."
